by Kelly Blount
Pulling back, Bethenny had tears in her eyes. “Grishma told your sister and I that both you and your father were dead. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I vowed the day Father died that I would never give up until Grishma had been slain and I had found you and Brianna,” said Ryder solemnly.
“I’m so sorry this daunting task has fallen upon you,” said Bethenny.
She embraced him one last time and held him in her arms. “I love you, Ryder.”
“I love you too, Mother,” he replied.
Bethenny took a step back. “Okay, the sooner we depart, the sooner we shall meet again.”
“Agreed,” said Ryder.
Pidifer grabbed a torch off the wall and took a step down the hallway. “This way.”
Upon reaching the other side of the tunnel, everyone said their final goodbyes and promised to see one another soon. Albie, Bethenny, and Pidifer crawled out first and disappeared into the pitch-black night. Once they were out of sight, Ryder and Alexia slinked out of the tunnel and into the nearby brush.
Alexia pointed toward the horizon. “Up ahead is the main road out of Sumner. We’ll follow it until we reach the Zonam Mountains. The royal carriages must follow this route until it forks off and leads to Dratun, the Frozen Lands.”
“How do you know so much?” asked Ryder.
“My mother and I have traveled with the Royal Court. I have been to many distant lands. Never Dratun, but I know the road that leads there,” she said. “We’ll get to the mountains a day ahead of time, which will leave us time to rest and make a plan to save those you love.”
“Sounds good to me, let’s go!” said Ryder.
He silently followed Alexia through the woods. They never lost sight of the road that would lead Brianna, Brooklyn, and Cridifer to Dratun.
Their feet tangled in snaking vines and they were forced to weave and twist through branches and trunks of trees with jagged bark.
Through the moonlight, Ryder could see a small creek winding through the trees. “I’m getting hungry, how about you?” asked Ryder.
“Yeah, I think we’re safe to stop for the night,” said Alexia.
Ryder pulled out lera berries, a few small strips of dried meat, and a flask of water.
After eating, they pulled two blankets out of the small pack and laid them down on the cold forest floor.
His eyelids felt droopy and sleep was coming fast. “Hey, Alexia, thanks for coming with me,” said Ryder.
She yawned. “You’re welcome.”
The morning sun barely peeked through the dense canopy of trees.
“Hey! Wake up,” said Alexia as she nudged Ryder.
“Huh? Where am I?” he asked as he sat up and looked around.
She smiled and her blue eyes twinkled. “You’re in the woods near the Zonam Mountains with me. Now get up, I have an idea!”
He stood up and stretched. Each joint felt like someone had poured cement in it as he slept.
“I’m sore, too,” said Alexia as she watched him reach his arms above his head.
“I think I slept on a rock… or perhaps a boulder,” said Ryder with a smile on his face.
Alexia pulled out the water flask. “Here, I filled this in the creek.”
“Thanks. So what’s your plan?”
“Okay, so, I was thinking, how can we stop the carriage without getting caught by the guards?” She popped a lera berry in her mouth and chewed it. “And the answer is simple, all we need to do is block the path. There’s already a few felled trees just off to the side of the road. We just need to pull them across the path and the carriages will have to stop. That’s when we’ll strike!”
Ryder smiled. “That’s not half bad.”
“Yeah, I know! Plus, we can hide in the trees until we see the carriages,” said Alexia.
Ryder finished eating and went to inspect the felled trees. “I think we can move these three smaller trees across the path. There’s no way the carriage will be able to pass over them.”
Over the next several hours, the two pushed and pulled on the downed trees.
“These are heavy,” said Alexia.
Ryder could feel the sweat pouring off his face and running down his back. He stripped off his shirt and wiped his brow.
Alexia saw him out the corner of her eye and smiled. “So, this Brooklyn… are you two… together?”
Ryder instantly became flustered and he looked down at his feet. “Um, no, well, not really. I mean, I don’t know what’s going on between us.”
“Oh. I see,” responded Alexia.
An awkward tension filled the air. “How about you? I’m surprised you haven’t already been married off,” said Ryder.
“Surprised?” she snapped. “I will decide who and when I shall marry!”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” said Ryder.
“It’s fine. Look, they could show up soon. Why don’t you find a spot on that side of the road and I’ll stick to this side.”
Ryder frowned. “How will we know when to attack?”
“When you’re ready, just whistle three times,” said Alexia.
“I’ve got my father’s sword. Do you still have your dagger?” asked Ryder.
“Yeah,” snipped Alexia.
“Okay, see you in a bit,” said Ryder.
Ryder felt himself nodding off a few times as he sat perched in a large leaf-covered tree. Stay awake! You cannot blow this!
Suddenly, he heard branches snapping.
He whistled once, then twice, but before he could whistle a third time to cue Alexia it was time to attack, he froze! The scent of dead rotten eggs filled his nostrils. Grishma!
The foul monster came into view moments later. Inspecting the felled trees, she laughed and then slung something over her shoulder.
Was that a body?
Grishma took off back down the path and disappeared around a corner.
Ryder waited until the coast was clear and then whistled three times.
Alexia dropped down from a tree and quickly found Ryder. Her eyes were wide and fear coursed through her body. “What is Grishma doing here?”
“I don’t know,” said Ryder.
“What are we going to do?” asked Alexia.
“Let’s go see what the foul beast is up to,” said Ryder.
They crept through the woods until Grishma came into view. She was climbing a large tree.
“What is she carrying?” asked Alexia in a hushed tone.
“I think it’s a body,” whispered Ryder.
Moments later, the royal carriage came into view and Grishma threw the corpse. It ripped through the top of the carriage and someone inside shrieked.
Alexia covered her ears and her eyes glistened with tears. “What the hell are we going to do?” asked Alexia.
Ryder looked at Alexia. “I don’t have a choice. I have to kill Grishma and save my sister and Brooklyn.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
SOPHIE SCREAMED AND RACED BLINDLY through the woods. Unsure of which way to go, she sprinted as fast as her legs would take her. Panting hard, a cramp twisted up her left side. She wouldn’t be able to run much longer.
Slowing down, she looked behind her. All she saw were shrubs, trees, and the base of the Zonam Mountain.
Why is Grishma trying to kill me? What did I do?
A booming laugh filled the air. “Oh, Princess Sophie, or shall I say, Brooklyn… where are you?”
Brooklyn?
Sophie stopped running and crawled under some thick leafy bushes.
“There’s no use hiding, I will find you and I will kill you, my dear!”
She could see the nearby brush shaking and a disgusting smell filled the air.
Mucus was dripping down, forming a puddle on the ground. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Suddenly, someone dropped from a nearby tree limb. “Leave her alone!”
Grishma spun around. “Ryder? Have you come to die, too?”
&n
bsp; Ryder?
Sophie couldn’t see much through the shrubs, but she could hear the clanging of swords.
“Is that all you’ve got, boy?”
Ryder screamed and Sophie could hear rapid footsteps.
Why is Ryder here and why is Grishma trying to kill him, too?
Sophie felt someone tugging on her leg and a hand reached up to cover her mouth as a muffled scream attempted to escape her lips.
“Princess! It’s me, Emlyn!”
Sophie’s heart was beating so fast she thought it might thump right out of her chest.
“Quick! Come with me, Princess! Brianna has Prince Algid on a horse nearby and they’re waiting for us with another horse!”
Emlyn waved and beckoned Sophie to follow. “This way,” she mouthed.
They crawled through the woods on their hands and knees until they could no longer hear Grishma and Ryder fighting.
“Just a little bit further,” said Emlyn in a hushed tone.
After a few more moments of slinking through the woods, two horses came into view.
Emlyn raced to the horse and threw herself on its back. Sophie followed and took her outstretched hand.
Brianna and Emlyn nudged the horse’s sides and galloped off into the woods.
“What the happened back there?” Emlyn shouted over her shoulder.
Sophie felt numb and yet overcome by emotion at the same time. “Grishma tried to kill me!”
“What? Why?”
“She called me Brooklyn and said I knew too much and that I had to die!”
“I’m so sorry, Princess! We’ll ride straight to Dratun! We’ll be safe there!” called Emlyn.
The horse galloped through the thick brush of the woods. Sophie could see the tail end of Prince Algid and Brianna’s horse. “Is Prince Algid okay? He was acting so strange!”
“Brianna said that Grishma followed you once you turned to run. The Prince just stood there with a strange look on his face. When Brianna got to him, he had a dart in his neck!”
“I knew something was wrong with him,” said Sophie.
The four escaped through the woods and rode for the rest of the night without stopping. By the time dawn approached, the horses were exhausted and needed a drink. They stopped by a nearby stream to rest.
Algid had snapped out of his daze and reached for Sophie. “My Princess! I’m so sorry I abandoned you in your time of need! Grishma drugged me. The last thing I remember is being in the carriage with you.”
He embraced Sophie and rubbed her back. “I will never leave you again, my darling!”
Her stomach growled as they embraced.
“You must be hungry, my love! Brianna, Emlyn, do either of you know what might be edible in these woods?”
Emlyn shook her head no.
Brianna smiled a sad smile, “Yes, my mother taught me how to forage for food in the forest when I was a young girl.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Emlyn.
The girls went off in search of something to eat in the woods, leaving Sophie and Algid together to rest and watch the horses.
“Princess, what happened back there? What was Grishma doing?”
The long night plus the stored up emotions finally collided internally and Sophie began to sob.
“Grishma called me Brooklyn and told me I knew too much!”
Algid held his wife and attempted to soothe her. “It’s okay, I promise I’ll never let Grishma or anyone hurt you again. We shall ride to Dratun and my father will help me protect you! He’s the most fierce warrior in all of Necoh!”
“Really?” Sophie asked meekly.
Algid kissed her on the forehead. “Yes, I promise.”
They sat on a log and waited for Brianna and Emlyn to return. A short time later, the girls came back with the top layer of their dresses folded over and overflowing with roots, nuts, and assorted berries.
“Oh Brianna! Thank goodness for your mother!” Sophie said.
The four sat together and ate the food the girls had collected. Then after a short rest, Algid stood and stretched his arms above his head. “I think we should depart. Grishma may be close behind and we can’t risk staying here any longer”
“Agreed,” said Brianna.
“Princess Sophie, I shall ride with you the rest of the way,” said Algid. “Plus, I know a short cut through the mountains.”
They climbed on the horses and took off racing through the woods.
Sophie wrapped her arms around Algid and attempted to momentarily forget the madness and mayhem that had taken over her life the past several days. She quickly realized there was no way to stop thinking about it.
Her memories were flooded with images of Grishma and the sounds of Ryder’s sword clashing with her long, putrid nails.
The rocky mountainside rose and fell along with the tree line. Algid guided the horses through small openings between rocks and large trees. They climbed up and then raced down throughout the beautiful scenery.
The sun dropped gracefully in the sky as they reached the end of the forest. In front of them lay a barren wasteland.
Prince Algid held up his hand and Brianna slowed her horse.
“Let’s give the horses some water and food. We shall eat, too. Then, we ride through the night to Dratun.”
The weary travelers dismounted their horses and dropped to the ground.
Sophie’s legs felt numb and her bum felt sore from the bumpy ride. She looked at her friends. “How are you two holding up?”
“Okay, Princess Sophie. And you?” asked Brianna.
“My shoulder really hurts and my legs feel like they’re about to fall off, but other than that, I feel okay,” said Sophie with a weak laugh.
They rested, eating and drinking to replenish what they’d lost during their journey. Sophie tried to shake the pain from her shoulder but her attempt proved futile. She soon gave up and suggested they move on.
Brianna groaned and Emlyn sighed.
Algid attempted to smile. “As ready as we’ll ever be.”
They mounted their horses and rode across the treeless plain. Sophie began to shiver. She pressed against Algid for warmth.
“We’re getting close!” he shouted over his shoulder. They rode for what seemed like an eternity until finally the gates of Dratun came into view and the towering castle rose in the background.
Sophie gasped, “It’s beautiful!”
Algid grinned. “I knew you would love it.”
Sophie couldn’t take her eyes off the castle. Everything was covered in ice and it shimmered against the cold gray sky. Spires twisted up toward the heavens and the towers became lost in thick, low hanging clouds.
When they approached the city walls, the massive gates opened and two riders raced out. Algid hailed them and the group trotted through the city gates.
Sophie’s eyes swept across the icy kingdom and tried to take everything in. Small snow-covered homes and shops lined the streets. “It’s exquisite,” she murmured.
With a huge smile on his face, Algid said, “Welcome to your new home.”
After entering the castle, everything flew by in a blur. Algid greeted several people dressed in warm furry clothing and before she knew it, Sophie was being led up a large staircase and shown into a massive bedroom.
“Do you like it?” Algid asked.
“It’s stunning,” replied Sophie.
“I hoped you would like it,” he said smiling. “This will be our wing of the castle, that is, until we become the King and Queen of Dratun.”
Sophie ran her hand through her hair and sighed. “Prince Algid, thank you for everything. The past few days have been horrible!”
He shook his head. “I know. I never would have imagined that Grishma would have turned on your family. We’ve already sent riders with the news to your father.”
“What do you think he’ll do?” asked Sophie.
“I imagine he will retaliate. I’m not sure how, but he’ll want Grishma’s head on a s
take as soon as possible!”
Sophie nodded in agreement.
“Darling, you must be exhausted. Why don’t you rest? I’ll call you in a bit for dinner. I must speak with my father.”
Relief washed over her like a rain shower on a spring day. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Algid on the lips. “Nothing would make me happier. Goodnight, my sweet Prince!”
After Algid excused himself, Sophie made a beeline for the enormous bed covered in warm down comforters.
She crawled under the covers and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
“Princess, it’s time to wake up,” said Algid as he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
“Huh?” Her voice was groggy.
“It’s time to wake up. You slept all night and throughout much of today.”
She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her shoulder prevented her from doing so.
Algid held out his hand. “Here, let me help you.”
She winced as she got out of bed.
“How does your shoulder feel? We have a healer waiting to treat you,” said Algid.
“It really hurts,” admitted Sophie. She looked down. The hem of her dress had come loose and there was a long tear running from the side of her waist to her feet. “I can’t go anywhere looking like this. But it hurts so much, I’m not sure I can change into anything else.”
He handed Sophie a plush white robe. “Why don’t you just slip this on?”
She managed to put on the robe without too much pain.
“Come, the healer is this way,” said Algid. The cold air tickled her nose as she followed Algid through the magnificent castle. “Aren’t the ice sculptures beautiful?” asked Algid.
“Yes, I’m just surprised you have them inside the castle walls,” said Sophie.
“You’ll get used to the cold,” laughed Algid.
“I sure hope so,” she said.
Sophie’s stomach growled and her cheeks turned crimson. “Pardon me!”
“You must be hungry,” chuckled Algid. “There is a feast prepared for us. We shall attend as soon you’ve seen the healer.”